Storage vessel



Dec. 30, 1947. H. 0. BOARDMAN I STORAGE VESSEL Fiied not. e, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 30, 1947. H. c. BOARDMAN 2,433,335

' STORAGE VESSEL Filed Oct. e, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 2 i, /Z/ /50 Ma Dec. 30, 1947. H. c. BQARDMAN 3 STORAGE VESSEL Filed Oct. 6, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 30, 1947 STORAGE VESSEL Harry *0. Boardman, Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago Bridge 19: Iron Company, a corporation or Illinois Application October 6, 1943,.Scrial'No. 505,105

1 13 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a storage vessel and .more particularly to .a storage vessel of 'largeca- .pacity and considerable height.

Storage vessels of this type are customarily made of sheetmetal of generally cylindrical form.

The sheet metal is-oi sufiic'ient thickness to with stand the pressure either of the .liquid contained within the vessel or of any other internal pressure which may exist. 'Where this pressure is high, the (metal thickness must of course be cor- 'respond'inglygreat, and,iin storage vessels of large capacity, the thickness tends to increase to amounts whichlmay be undesirable and whichare in any event undesirably thick .for welding. The present invention provides a structure which is basically cylindrical in form and which requires no more, or at .best very little more total meta-l,

than .is required with a truly cylindrical vessel, and which requires much less welding.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. .1 is .a partial plan view with the roof removed of the preferred form of the container; Fig. 2 is asectional elevation takenalong the line 22 inFig. .1; .Fig. 3 is a :similar view of a further modification; Fig. .4 is a fragmentary sectional plan View of a modified form; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5-5 :of Fig. 4.; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view .of anothermodified structure; Fig. 7 is .a section taken along the line -l in .Fig. 6; andsFig. 8 is a partial plan view with the roof removed of another modified structure.

The container t comprises .a sheet .metal shell .H in the form of a plurality of circular segments .12 made up of individual sheet metal plates arranged -in horizontal courses or rows. @It is un derstood that the use of such courses isstandard practice in the construction "of storage vessels,

reach.successivecourse:being'cf thinner meta-lthan .the preceding slower course.

It will be noted that 213113 intersections M and Ma of adjacent circular segments lie .on :the pe- .ri-phery of the imaginary :cylin-der 1:5 shown in dotted .lines in .Figure .1- Vertical :radial eliaphragms l6 are provided at the intersections 1M and Ma, e.tc extending either inwardly \01' cutwardly't'o .or away from the axis I'] of thecylinvdier -15. These diaphragms are arranged :in :courses :in the same manner .as the plates .in the circular segments .12. They are connected :by'tie members t8 which :may be either 's'heetzmetal, :rods ortheiike. The thickness :of the'diaphragms il'fi and the .tiemembers -l-.8.in each icoursernay be-caL culated readily in accordance wvith known engimeering procedure.

It is not essential that the edges of adjacent courses of diaphragms or tie bars be connected. .For example, as shown in Figure 2., the edge 25] between the diaphragms l6 and its is .leitiree, as is the edge 2| between the diaphragmslfia, and Hit). Similarly the edges 22 and .Ziibeitween tiebars l8 and Mia, and 18a and [812, respectively, are preferably left free.

Infthe modification shown in 'Fig. 3, the .diaphragms 1'60 are extended outwardly .beyond the circularsegments 12-0 and are then connected'by the tie bars 80. In this modification the tie bars 1'80 may :be suitably connected to the .midsections of the circular segments to provide a bracing against twisting. Post 12.! may also .be provided at the diaphragms Hill if desired. lIhe form .of structure shown in Fig. 3 is particularly suit-able where .a floating .roof l22 is to be em- ,ployed.

It is of course not essential that the radial -.diaphragms in all courses be of the same length and in tact it may be desirable in somecases to eliminate radial .diaphragms in the upper courses entirely, as shown inFigs. -6 and 7. Ilhis .modification may be employed where the thickness =of the metal becomes less than it is desired to handle -.or where additional thinness is either undesirable -or unimportant.

The length of the radial dialchragms is theoretica-l-ly unimportant, since the amount of metal required is the same. However, it is 'of considerable importance that they -be neither too short :nor too long. For example, it is preferred that the diaphragm :be at least sufficiently long to permit access to the sectors 25 bounded by :any pair of diaphragms, the tie bar, and the outer wall 1-12. It is :also preferred that the metal in the diaphragms :be thickenough for practicable -handling and to withstand ordinary corrosive inlfirn 'ences.

it may readily be :shown that the amount of metal required for the structure shown in Fig. .1 is identical in weight with that required for f8. circular cylinder of the same height and capacity. relationship holds true :ior radial diaph'ragms 20f Zero length up to the radius "R of the cylinder 15. It :is not quite true for the form shown 'in.Fig.-3,tas :slightlyrmore metal'is required.

Whileithe amount .of metal required is the same, (the thickness at metal employed in the wall sections may the greatly reduced. For "exsample, in the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7, ?a storage itan'k :of 490,000 barrels :capacity in cylindrical form, :and :40 it. in height, would have .65 a radius of about 13.4 lfti; whenzusinga scalloped wall intersecting on a cylinder having a radius of 133 ft. but having a radius of curvature of 67 ft., the wall thickness in each of the courses 30, 3| and 32 may be reduced approximately 50%.

The bottom 40 may be of any suitable form. It is illustrated as a common sheet metal bottom. The lower diaphragm I6 may, if desired, have its bottom edge welded to the bottom 40 of the tank, and the lower portion of the tie bar I8 may then be omitted since the bottom 40 will act in its place.

The top 50 of the tank may be of any suitable type although, if it is to be a floating roof I22 as shown in Fig. 3, the outer segmental structure shown in Fig. 3 should be employed.

The amount of welding required is greatly reduced as compared with an ordinary cylindrical tank of the same capacity and height. The amount of welding increases more than proportionately with the thickness of the metal and generally approaches the square of the ratio. In the present structure the only welding required is the outer shell, and the welding of the edges of the diaphragms to the outer shell and to the tie members. In the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7 it is also necessary to include a plate 60 to close the residual segments above the course 32. In any event, however, the total welding is very considerably less than would be required of the cylindrical form.

It will be observed that the tie members form an inner shell. This inner shell does not, however, need to be complete, and the radial diaphragms may be tapered to a relatively narrow inner shell member. Furthermore a series of inner shell members may be provided as illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein radial diaphragms I6I are connected by inner shell members I8I and I82. Such a plurality of structures may be employed where it is desired to have no metal thicker than a predetermined maximum.

The circular segments or scallops need not of course be of the same radius of curvature in the various courses. Figs. 6 and 7 are modifications of this type in which the fourth and fifth courses 33 and 34 have a radius of curvature equal to that of the cylinder. If the radius of curvature in any course is difierent from the radius in any other course, suitable plates must be used to cover the resultin openings between the courses.

The bottom course of the inner shell members should not be fastened to the bottom 'of the tank, nor should the top course of the inner shell members be fastened to the roof of the tank.

By selecting the number of cusps or segments and adjusting the area and length of the diaphragms, it is possible to make all the metal in the tank in any given course of equal thickness.

The modifications shown in Figs. 4 and is a deviation in which the vessel I90 has an outer shell made up of a series of conical scallops I95 connected at their intersections by radial diaphragms I96 which are in turn held by tie members I9I. The radius of curvature of the scallops is varied from top to bottom of the container. For example, as shown, the top of the vessel is a circle of the same radius of curvature as the distance between the center of the container and the center of any scallop. At the bottom, however, the radius of curvature is markedly less, for example, half as much as at the top. In any horizontal section, the scallops intersect on the circle and the summation of these circles forms an inverted cone. The cone, however, is usually substantially cylindrical in form.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than with adjacent segments on the periphery of a predetermined series of horizontal superimposed circles, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the said circles, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent radial diaphragms.

2. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a prede termined series of horizontal superimposed circies, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the said circles, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent radial diaphragms, and tie members in each course being substantially unconnected to tie members in adjacent courses.

3. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a predetermined series of horizontal superimposed circles, vertical radial diaphragms extending inwardly from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the said circles, and inner shell members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent radial diaphragms.

4. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a predetermined series of horizontal superimposed circles, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the said circles, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the upper courses of said vessel being cylindrical, and there being cover plates connecting the lower edge of the lowest cylindrical course with the upper edge of the upper course of circular segments.

5. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a circle, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the circle, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent courses of radial diaphragms.

6. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a circle, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the circle, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent courses of radial diaphragms, and tie members in each course being substantially unconnected to tie members in adjacent courses.

7. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a circle, vertical radial diaphragms extending inwardly from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the circle, and inner shell members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent courses of radial diaphragms.

8. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprisin a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a circle, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the circle, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the upper courses of said vessel being cylindrical, and there being cover plates connecting the lower edge of the lowest cylindrical course with the upper edge of the upper course of circular segments.

9. In a storage vessel, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of scallops formed of circular segments on any horizontal cross-section, said scallops vertically intersecting with adjacent scallops to form a complete shell, vertical diaphragms extending inwardly from the intersection of each pair of scallops, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the diaphragms in each course being substantially unconnected to diaphragms in adjacent courses.

10. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a circle, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the circle, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the tie members in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent courses of tie members.

11. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a. series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than with adjacent segments on the periphery of a predetermined cylinder, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the cylinder, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms and tie members in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent radial diaphragms and tie members, respectively.

12. In a storage vessel of generally cylindrical shape, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of circular segments with their concave surfaces facing inwardly and vertically intersecting at an angle of less than 180 with adjacent segments on the periphery of a predetermined cylinder, vertical radial diaphragms extending from the vertical intersections of the segments along radii of the cylinder, at least one sheet metal face including a bottom connecting at least one of the end courses of circular segments, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the radial diaphragms and tie mem bers in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent radial diaphragms and tie members, respectively, and an end course of said radial diaphragms being connected to the adjacent end face of the storage vessel.

13. In a storage vessel, a sheet metal shell comprising a series of horizontal courses of scallops formed of circular segments on any horizontal cross section, said scallops vertically intersecting with adjacent segments to form a complete shell, vertical diaphragms extending inwardly from the intersection of each pair of scallops, and tie members connecting the diaphragms, the tie members in each course being substantially unconnected to adjacent courses of tie members.

HARRY C. BOARDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,344 Clayton June 9, 1903 1,864,759 Pritchard June 28, 1932 2,331,483 Lawman et al. Oct, 12, 1943 2,160,360 I-Iassan May 30, 1939 1,668,179 Williams May 1, 1928 1,911,058 Bushnell May 23, 1933 1,864,931 Pritchard June 28, 1932 2,012,964 Horton Sept. 3, 1935 2,004,113 Horton June 11, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 47,749 Denmark Sept. 11, 1933 304,263 Germany June 4, 1916 128,574 Britain June 18, 1919 242,141 Germany Dec, 22, 1911 

